Golf ball image projector including diaphragm closable at different speeds



Nov. 12, 1968 M. R. SPEISER 3,410,563

GOLF BALL IMAGE PROJECTOR INCLUDING DIAPHRAGM CLOSABLE AT DIFFERENT SPEEDS Filed May 25. 1964 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 Nov. 12, 1968 M. R. SPEISER 3,410,563

GOLF BALL IMAGE PROJECTOR INCLUDING DIAPHRAGM CLOSABLE AT DIFFERENT SPEEDS Filed May 25. 1964 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 I I I i f //6 77' I //7 I 7 a /06 C I H4/V D i W G I I I W0 I /07 Nov. 12, 1968 GOLF BALL IMAGE PilO Filed May 25. 1964 M R. SPEISER 3,410,563 JECTOR INCLUDING DIAPHRAGM CLOSABLE AT DIFFERENT SPEEDS 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 M. R. SPEISER Nov. 12, 1968 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed May 25. 1964 w M ..W 2 7 f 51% lb llllllllll I: 3 M M 2 i -1 4, 0 k\/ 4 J \f f w W l fly m ,r x -1: FEE a W a E L l a r4 g f z Nov. 12, 1968 M. R. SPEISER 3,410,563 GOLF BALL IMAGE PR JECTOR INCLUDING DIAPHRAGM CLOSABLE AT DIFFERENT SPEEDS Filed May 25. .1964 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 F VEQZ'CHL //P/5 my me M0 0/ W070i 7 /03 T Q I Q P HORIZONTAL DELAY CIDCUIT cmcurr VOLTAGE TO VOLTAGE TO Nov. 12, 1968 M. R; SPEISER 3,410,563

GOLF BALL IMAGE PROJECTOR INCLUDING DIAPHRAGM CLOSABLE AT DIFFERENT SPEEDS Filed May 25. 1964 6 Sheets-Sheet +1:

30 9' C! o 25- '5 2o- 2 .5- 3 IO- s l l A 0 I00 200 3 00 400 COMPUTED YADDAGE 3o 0 5 2s F93 E 20- .l l5- 2 oe5 I l PROGRESSIVE COM DUTED YAD DAGE O O O o ,5 a 0 O O o g 0 O O o E 0 O o 0 Z OO 300 4-00 COMPUTED YAIQDAGE United States Patent 3,410,563 GOLF BALL IMAGE PROJECTOR INCLUDING DIAPHRAGM CLOSABLE AT DIFFERENT SPEEDS Maximilian Richard Speiser, 17 W. 60th St., New York, N.Y. 10023 Filed May 25, 1964, Ser. No. 369,850 3 Claims. (Cl. 273185) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A computer-actuated golf ball image projector including a diaphragm which may be closed at different speeds representative of different attained distances of a driven golf ball. Means are provided for causing the projected ball image to look like an actual golf ball in flight.

This invention relates generally to the field of computertype golf games, of the type disclosed in my prior patent, No. 3,091,466. Reference is also made to my co-pending application Ser. No. 332,475, filed Dec. 23, 1963, now Patent No. 3,300,218, the present disclosure relating to an improved construction thereover.

In the above-mentioned co-pending patent application, there is disclosed a means for projecting a movable spot of light over a projected or actual image of a golf green, so that shortly after the stroke has been completed, the corresponding light beam may approximately represent the flight of the ball, and come to rest upon the representation of the green in a position closely approximating the lie of the ball had the drive been made on an actual green. In the earlier construction, the size of the golf ball image was determined by shifting one of a plurality of fixed-diameter apertures into the path of the light beam prior to illumination of the lamp, so that with the proper selection of horizontal angular direction, a motor-driven reflecting mirror would permit the beam of light to be cast upon the golf green image and move downwardly to come to rest at a predetermined point.

While this construction gives a sense of realism to the game, using the prior construction the deflection takes place from the top of the projected or actual image of the golf green to the resting point of the ball at a substantially uniform speed. At the time the motor is excited, it drives at a substantially uniform rate through gear reduction so that the fall of the ball as watched by the player is not entirely realistic. For example, where the computed drive has been of relatively short length, not only will the representation of the ball be larger, but the size of the same will not appreciably diminish, as viewed by the player, as the trajectory of the flight is completed. In addition, the actual fall of the ball will appear to be relatively fast, as the ball is not far from the player. By contrast, where the drive has been of relatively longer length, not only will the size of the ball as viewed by the player be smaller, but the fall of the ball will be slower, and terminate at a vertical distance higher on the screen than the shorter drive so as to give the appearance of having fallen a greater distance away from the viewer upon the image of the golf green. In addition, the size of the ball during the falling portion of the trajectory thereof will not appreciably change.

It is therefore among the principal objects of the present invention to provide an improved form of spot projecting device for displaying the image of a moving golf ball upon an image of a golf green, in which a truly representative appearance of the golf ball will be made as the same is displayed.

Another object of the invention lies in the provision of an improved golf ball image projecting device in which the spot sizing and speed of angular deflection of the corresponding light beam have been materially simplified, without sacrifice in accurate resulting rendition.

Still another object of the invention lies in the provision of an improved spot projecting device of the class described in which both horizontal and vertical com ponents of the light ray beam deflection are motorized to permit faster operation.

Yet another object of the invention lies in the provision of an improved golf ball image projecting device of the class described, in which the cost of fabrication may be of a reasonably low order, while eliminating all delicate components used in prior constructions.

A feature of the invention lies in the provision of iris diaphragm means controlling the size of the projected light beam, the iris diaphragm being motor-driven in response to computer signals.

These objects and features, as well as other incidental ends and advantages, will more fully appear in the progress of the following disclosure, and be pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings, to which reference will be made in the specification, similar reference characters have been employed to designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

FIGURE 1 is a horizontal longitudinal section-a1 view of an embodiment of the invention.

FIGURE 2 is a vertical sectional view as seen from the plane 2-2 in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view of the embodiment.

FIGURE 4 is an end elevational view thereof, as seen from the right-hand portion of FIGURE 3.

FIGURES 5A, 5B and 5C comprise an electrical schematic of the embodiment.

FIGURE 6 is a view in perspective of a part of a golf driving range with which the embodiment is used.

FIGURES 7 and 8 are graphs showing the relationships of certain operating voltages plotted against attained yardage of individual drives.

FIGURE 9 is a graph showing the rate of change of a projected image obtained as a result of the voltage relationships shown in FIGURES 7 and 8.

In accordance with the invention, the device, generally indicated by reference character 10 (FIG. 3) comprises broadly; a base element 11, a projecting element 12, diaphragm means 13, diaphragm control means 14, light beam vertical deflecting means 15, light beam horizontal deflecting means 16, and deflection control means 17.

The base element 11 may be of any suitable type, and is preferably of a type commonly used in the fabrication of electronic chassis, wherein the same includes a generally planar upper wall 19, and peripheral side walls 20 which provide rigidity.

As best seen in FIGURES 1 and 3, the projecting element 12 includes a lamp housing 22 of generally rectangular configuration, and [bounded by a bottom wall 23, side walls 24, 25, 2'6 and 27, and a removable cover 28 which is preferably of louvered type to permit adequate ventilation. Depending upon the power consumed, suitable blower means (not shown) may also be provided to direct a current of air therethrough. Mounted on the bottom wall 23 is a lamp socket 29 which supports and powers a projection lamp 30. As is well-known in the art, a mirror 31 may be positioned on the wall 24 to reflect light beams toward a condensing lens system 32 mounted on the inner end of a tube 33 extending through an opening 34 in the Wall 25.

The diaphragm means 13 is of iris type, having a plurality of overlapping blades (not shown) controlled by an operating ring 36 having a lever 37 extending radially therefrom. The outer end 38 of the lever 37 mounts a bracket 39 having a cam follower roller 40 thereon.

The diaphragm control means 14 includes a shuntwound motor 42 (see FIG. 5B) mounted on a vertical wall 43 of the base element 11, the motor including integral gear reduction means 44 and a motion output shaft 45, the free end of which mounts a cam 46 contacting the above-mentioned roller 40. A second cam 47 engages the 'fOllOWGI roller 48 on an arm 49 to operate a switch 50 which serves to interrupt the flow of current to the motor 42 upon reaching home position wherein the diaphragm element 13 is fully opened, prior to the commencement of a subsequent cycle of operation.

The light beam vertical deflection means 15 serves to deflect the beam of light during a cycle of operation from a point commencing about the uppermost margin of the representation of a golf green (FIG. 6) through a path of angular deflection to a point where the projected golf ball image will appear to lie upon the proper location on the image of the golf green.

Referring again to FIGURES l and 3, the means 15 includes an elongated tube 52 rotatable about its longitudinal axis, a first end 53 of which is supported by a caring 54 in the vertical wall 43, and a second end 55 of which is similarly supported in a second vertical wall 56. Referring to FIGURE 2, the end 55 mounts thereupon a lever 57 having a cam follower roller 58 engaging a cam 59 on a shaft 60. The shaft 60 is supported in bearings 61 and 62 in walls 61a and 620:, respectively. The shaft 60 is driven by a motor 63 through gears 65 and 66, the former being mounted on the output shaft 67 of the motor 63. Gear 66a is also on shaft 60, and drives a potentiometer 68, to which reference will be made at a point later in the specification.

The horizontal deflection means 16 includes a frame or housing 71 mounted on the tube 52, and an extension 72 for the mounting of a motor 73 having gear reduction means 74 and a vertically positioned shaft 75 which mounts a rectangular mirror 76. As best seen in FIGURE 3, the mirror 76 is at all times positioned to lie upon the axis of a lens 77, in turn coaxially aligned with the condensing lens system 32 of the projecting element 12. An opening is provided in the tube 52 (not shown) to reflect light rays outwardly to form an image on the projection screen.

As will more fully appear with a later discussion of the schematic of FIGURES 5A, 5B and 5C, operation of the device 10 commences with a selection of one of five sectors determining the left-to-right position of the lie of the golf ball image. This is established before the lamp 30 is illuminated to full brilliance by operation of the motor 73. During this operation, the horizontal axis of the mirror is rotated to the uppermost home position by the motor 63. At the completion of computation, the lamp is illuminated to full brilliance, and the motor 63 rotates to deflect the beam downwardly in nonlinear fashion owing to the contour of the cam 59 seen in FIGURE 2, wherein downward movement at the commencement of the arcuate deflection is somewhat slower than the latter portion thereof, consistent with the normal downward acceleration of the ball near the end of its trajectory. At the completion of the downward deflection, upon reversal of the direction of current to the motor 63, the tube 52 is again rotated to its original position, this being determined by the tripping of a switch 70 operated by the lower end of the lever 57 (see FIGURE 1).

Referring now to FIGURES 5A, 5B and 5C, there is illustrated a schematic wiring diagram by means of which the lamp 30, horizontal motor 73, vertical motor 63, and iris motor 42 are operated. A grounded input 79 supplies normal line alternating current to a main switch 80, from whence current proceeds through a fuse 81 directly to the lamp 30, and returns through a capacitance-inductance choke 83 which permits a minimal amount of current to flow through the filament of the lamp at all times, thereby eliminating deterioration of the filament through constant interruption of the flow of current. When the lamp is illuminated to full brilliance, a pair of switches 84 and 85 allow the choke 83 to be shorted out of the circuit.

Power also flows to the primary winding 86 of a trans former 87. The upper of two secondary windings 88 feeds current through a direct current rectifier 89, which may be a silicon diode, and current flows to a capacitor 90 which forms part of a filter circuit, a bleeder resistor 91, and an upper single pole double throw switch 92 to power motor 63. In the position illustrated in the drawing, current flows through a second switch 93 (FIG. 5 B) to the iris motor 42, and thence through a further switch 95, and a resistor 96 to a resistance divider network 97 forming part of the control means 17 (see FIGURE 5C). A second circuit continues through conductor 98 and the abovementioned switch 50 and back to the secondary winding. Depending upon the position of the switch 95, the iris motor 42 will be either directly driven from the rectified voltage of the secondary winding to a home position, or through the resistance divider network 97, the operation of which will be more fully described hereinbelow. The lower single throw double pole switch 100 connects to a conductor 101 which passes current through a resistance 102 which forms the shunt for the iris motor. A conductor 104 provides current for the vertical motor and also connects with the resistance divider network 97. It will be observed that the vertical motor 63 is also provided with a shunt winding 103, and current continues from the same through the principal and shunt windings of the motor to the resistance divider network 97 through conductor 104. r

The resistance divider network 97 includes a fixed resistor 105 connected to a switch 106 having a return line 107 leading to a switch 108. Another contact of the switch 106 connects with a switch 109, in turn connected to switches 110 and 111 through interconnecting lines 112, 113 and 114, respectively. Disposed between the above-mentioned switches are resistors 116, 117 and 118, and from a consideration of FIGURE 5A, it will be apparent that the vertical motor will always be connected through resistor 105, but will share resistors 116, 117 and 118 with the iris motor, depending upon the position of the switches 106, 109, 110 and 111. In like manner, the iris motor will always have connected thereto resistance 120.

The above-mentioned switches 106111 are actuated by solenoids controlled in the manner disclosed in my above-mentioned prior patent, No. 3,091,466, which operation in turn depends upon the attained yardage of an individual drive. Thus, depending upon which of the switches are actuated, more resistance placed in series with the iris motor 42 will result in less resistance placed in series with the vertical motor 63, and vice versa. A relatively short drive will cause more of the resistance to be placed in series with the iris motor, resulting in the iris closing down relatively slowly as the vertical motor runs at relatively high speed, to result in the visual display of a fast-moving large spot which diminishes in size a relatively small amount during the total period of light beam deflection. By contrast, a relatively long drive will place most of the resistance in series with the vertical motor, and relatively little in series with the iris motor. This will cause the iris diaphragm means to close down relatively quickly, while the vertical motor runs relatively slowly, thus giving the illusion of the ball being further away and dropping relatively slowly (see FIGS. 7 and 8). It is to be understood that these controls do not determine the ultimate stopping point of the vertical motor, which is accomplished by means discussed hereinbelow.

Referring again to the upper portion of FIGURE 5A, the lower 123 of the two secondary windings is connected through a resistor 124 to the horizontal motor 73, and a shunt 125. The motor 73, in addition to driving the horizontal deflection means 16 also drives a rotary switch 126 having a plurality of contacts 127, 128, 129, 130 and 131 defining sectors of possible horizontal deflection. Connected to the contacts 127131 are first, second, third and fourth circuits 132, 133, 134 and 135, all of which serve the purpose of placing a positive or negative voltage at the contacts 127-131 to drive the motor 73 in desired direction toward a null at the selected contact. The selection of the contact is determined as described in my prior patent No. 3,091,466. Connected by line 138 to the secondary winding 123 is a resistance bridge 137 of the type disclosed in my co-pending application Ser. No. 332,475, filed Dec. 23, 1963, now patent No. 3,300,218. The bridge 137 includes fixed resistances 140 and 141, and a resistance 142 provided by the potentiometer 68, the fourth branch being connected by conductor 143 to selectively summed resistances 144, 145, 146 and 147, through switches 148, 149, 150 and 151 (FIG. 5C), the summed resistance returning through conductor 152 (FIG. 5A). The switches 148-151 are operated again by the computer, and thus the vertical motor will deflect the vertical deflection means 15 downwardly until the bridge 137 is balanced by operation of the potentiometer 68.

Upon this occurrence, an attenuator coupled trigger circuit 154 operates switch 155 which energizes relay 156 stopping the vertical motor. The switch 155 also operates the various reset relays in the manner described in the above-mentioned co-pending application, to ready the device for another cycle of operation.

I wish it to be understood that I do not consider the invention limited to the precise details of structure shown and set forth in this specification, for obvious modifications will occur to those skilled in the art to which the invention pertains.

I claim:

In a golf ball image projecting device, for use with a golf game computer means for determining the theoretical distance of a driven golf ball, having diaphragm means for changing the size of a projected golf ball image, and means for moving a projected golf ball image in a vertical plane, the improvement comprising: said diaphragm means being of a progressively closing type, and having motor driven means for progressively closing said diaphragm at any one of a plurality of different speeds during movement of said projected image in a vertical plane, means actuable by electrical signals from a golf game computer means for controlling the speed of said motor driven closing means so that the closing speed of said diaphragm is dependent upon the attained distance of a driven golf ball as determined by said computer means whereby a projected gof ball image upon moving downwardly upon a screen may progressively decrease in size at any of a plurality of rates of change to simulate the view of a golf ball in a direction away from a viewer as it would appear during the different trajectories associated with different attained distances.

2. Structure in accordance with claim 1, further characterized in the provision of mirror means driven by a motor for deflecting a golf ball image in said vertical plane, and resistance divider network means for varying in inverse ratio voltages simultaneously powering said diaphragm closing means and said motor driving said mirror means.

3. Structure in accordance with claim 2, said mirror means including an elongated horizontal tube supported for rotation about its longitudinal axis, said last mentioned motor driving said tube about said axis, housing means supported by said tube, and a mirror within said tube supported on said housing means for rotation about a second axis, perpendicular to said first axis.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3/1957 Simjian 273- 

